Commutator connection



(No Model.)

0. A. LIEB. GOMMUTATOR CONNECTION.

No. 516,827. Patented Mar. 20, 1894.

Hal 5&5- HIS-1 M NEEEEE Li a rerun STATES PATENT Orrrcs.

CHARLES A. lill lll, OF NEW YORK, N. L, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMM UTATOR CONNE'CTlON.

SPEGIFEUA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,827, dated March 20, 1894.

Application fi July 18. 1893. Serial No. 480,805. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. inns, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Gommutator Connections, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dynamo electric machines, and consists in new and improved means for connecting the coils of an armature to the segments of its commutator. 'It is nec essary in making such connections to secure perfect electrical contact and a considerable degree of mechanical strength as well, while it is desirable to so construct the parts that they can be readily replaced when necessary.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby these ends may be attained, and further than this the connector which I have devised admits of the use of commutator bars without ears or projections of any kind, so that they can be out from bars of rolled metal instead of being cast or drop-forged, thereby eliecting a considerable saving in cost.

It has been customary to construct commutators of bars having ears or arms at their inner ends, or ends next to the armature, and to connect the leads from the armature coils to these ears by means of screws or solder. In commutators having a large number of segments, however, each segment is extremely thin, and it becomes impossible to tap them for screws of sufiicient size to give the necessary strength, while a simple surface soldered connection is always unreliable.

In carrying out my invention, I provide segments consisting of plain bars of rolled metal, slightly thicker at the top than at the bottom so that when assembled they form a cylindrical commutator, and said segments are provided with slots into which connector pieces embracing the leads are adapted to be forced, thereby making a strong mechanical connection and affording perfect electrical contact.

In the accompanying drawings, l igure 1. is a plan view of the connector as it comes from the die. Fi is a perspective view of the same bent into final shape. Fig. 3 is a verilcal c oss-section of a modification thereof. Fig. 4 is an end View of a segment projected from Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a segment and connector showing the method of assembly; and Fig.6 is a perspective View of a segment with the connector in place.

Referring to Fig. 1 the connector A is a fiat piece of-thin metal provided with slots a cut in from the sides near the bottom, and opposite to each other so as to form, when the connector is bent into shape, asingle slot as shown in Figs. 53 and The material used in making these connectors is preferably phosphorbronze, hard drawn copper, or other good conducting material possessing considerable elasticity. The said connector may be cut in from the edges at a, so that. the upper portion thereof can be bent into the form of a cup a Figs. 2, 5 and 6, adapted to fit and surround the armature lead C. The commutator segment B, Figs. 4, 5 and (J, is provided at its inner end with a slot 1) through which passes, preferably near the bottom, a pin b best shown in Fig.5. This pin may be headed in countersunk openings in the segment as shown in Fig. l, or otherwise suitably fastened. The lead C is then secured to the connector in the cup a and the lower end of said connector hooked over the pin l) by means of the slots a, as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 2, said lower end of the connector A when'bent into shape is squeezed flat, so that, while snugly lilting, it can be easilyinserted endwise into the slot and hooked over the pin b by means of the slot a. Above the said slot (1, however, the edges of the connector are left somewhat spread apart, and the elasticity of the metal tends to keep them thus spread. Upon the said pin as a pivot, however, the connector can be turned and drawn into the slot, its edges being easily pressed together as they are wedged in, while after the connector is in place the said edges tending to spread apart against the side of the slot prevent the connector from being jarred out under vibration, the result of vibration being rather to force it farther in. The connector is of such thickness that the flattened end portion thereof tits as closely within the slot as is consistent with its ready insertion slotted segment and a-connector one end of narrow strip of metal longitudinally bent along the center to form an acute angle and endwise into aslot in a segment, anda detent retained in a slotted segment by the spring I connection, yet one which can be readily replacedwhen. necessary. If desired, the segment B may be slightly concaved at b*, into but spreading at the other end, and a pivotal therein, and therefore when in place the said connector 'completely'fills the slot pressing against the sides thereof, and affording excellent electrical contact therewith. The pin 12' resisting centrifugal force as. the commutator rotates, and the spreading'edges of the connector engaging with the walls-of the slot as above described; together afford a good which concave portion the cupo springs when the connector is in place, thereby affording a still stronger union of the parts. It is obvious,-more over, that-the slot '1) might be made in the top of the segment rather than the end, and in some cases might thus be rendered more accessibleif it became necessary to replace aconnector. ,7

Whatl claim as new, and desire to-secure bv Letters Patent, is-- I V l. A commutator connection comprising a which is pivotally connected to said segment withinthe slot, so that the connector may be drawn into place within the slot by turning it upon its pivotal connection, as set forth. I

2. Acomtnutator connection comprising a slotted segment,' a.nd aeonnector havi-ngelastic sides or wings wedged into the slot and retained therein by'their tendency to-spread apart,'.'as set forth. 1 1 e v 1 3. A commutator connection comprising a slotted segment, a connector having elastic sides or wings-flattened together at one end connectionwithin the slot by which said flat-. tened end is retained while the spreading end is wedged into the slot, as set forth.

4. Acommutator connection comprisinga flattened atone end so as to be easily inserted in said slot forming.- a pivot aroundwhich said bent strip can be forciblydrawn into the slot, as set forth.

-5.. A commut'ator connector comprising anarrowstrip of elastic metal longitudinally bent .atran acute angle along the center, and

pressure of its edges against the walls of th slot, as set forth.

6. A commutator connection comprising a segment having a slot therein, a pin extend-- ing across the said slot, and. a separate consaidfpi'nforming a pivot around. which. said connector is forcibly drawn into the slot, as

set forth.

7. A commutator connection comprising a segment havingaslot therein, and a U -shaped v connector connected to the lead wire and pivoted in said slot, said connector being adapted to be tn rned upon its pivot and thereby forced I into said slot with the bend of the U innermost, as and forthepurpose described.

8. A commutator-connector comprising a thin strip ofelastie metal, cut and bent atits upper portion so. as to form a cup i=n which] .the lead wire is fastened andfolded at its lower-portion, so that itcan'bedrawn into aslot inthe commutator segment, and a slotted re cess at the outer edge of said folded portion,

adapted 'to fit over and be held by,a pin ex.-

-tendingacross said slot; in thecommutator segmennsubstantially. as described.

9. A commutator. connection comprising a slot in the commutatorsegment, apin within '80 {said sloLextending from one sideto the other- ;thereof, a plate of metal bent at'it's upper porr- I tion to, fit and surround the lead wire, and

folded .flat at its lower. portion so as to fit within *said' slot, and a slotted recess at the be engaged by'said pin, substantially, as described,

10. In a commutator connection, the combination with a segmentconsistingofa bar of rolled copper, of a slot therein, apinin said slot, and a connector electrically c0nnected to the lead wire and adapted to tightly fitwithi'n" saidslot and engage withsaid pin, I

as described.

In testimony. whereof I have hereunto setouter. edge oisaid folded portion adapted to. 

